Everything is locked up tight here Gregg. Don't you know we're the gang capital of North America. We've had more gang related by rival member to member shootings resulting in death this year than the number of gigs in total i've done in 09!. Maybe they'll all do each other in so it will the nice place to live again like it was when I first moved here in the 80's. Still a lovely place to live with some good creative players to play with here on the Coast.

Yes you better get those suitcases.. err....I mean plastic bags :} packed. Remember to put anything small made of metal or they can percieve to be a unboard threat in the underbelly of the plane NOT in your carry on!

Have a great trip and do visit some of our DW members in Yorkshire and up in Manchester down the road. The trains out of London are fast and efficient to all points North...... by a Brit Rail pass..... you can have a pint on the train too :}

Start packing.....:}

Yeah, I figured you guys locked up your stuff too! Is that really true about the gangs? Wow, crazy, I thought Toronto was bad!!! I've always wanted to visit Vancouver, though that now seems unlikely as I hate flying and I'm moving much further away from you! I have to admit something only Canadians will get, James Barber (RIP) made me want to visit Vancouver!

Yeah man, I WISH I could just chuck things in plastic bags. There's a good story of how Paul Motian saw Joey Baron many years ago in the airport with a paper bag of sticks, whist Paul was carrying all his gear (or at least his cymbals). Paul said 'where's the rest of your gear?' Joey- notorious for using whatever's available- replied that he just carried that bag with some sticks and underwear on tour! But uh, no I don;t really have a good suitcase, so I'm probably going to pack a bass drum bag instead, which the airline said was cool. Good for me as it's much lighter than a suitcase!

I did a purge of my wee 18" cymbal bag that I'm carrying on (with cymbals) for all manner of sharp, metal things and so on. Deadliest thing I have is my manhole cover of an 18" prototype ride=).

I will absolutely visit anyone any everyone who will have me. I guess maybe that's part of why I started this thread. I kinda wanted to get a look at Britain from others, I want each persons perspective, you know? You're all going to want to show and tell me different things, tell me stuff about your town or place, or your own experiences, what's important to each of you. And I think that is pretty f*****g cool, I must say.

Yea I got a good impression of Canada from BFC too lol. But I dunno it just seems like nice place, friendly neighbours to the north and all that. I don't have any real knowledge of the place. I suppose I'd just like to be somewhere where it snows at christmas lol.

The second city thing is more of a status/pride thing, nothing official. Some people say that Manchester should be the capital (mainly people from Manchester lol) but obviously it's never going to be so we settle with 'second city'.

Oh and it's Man U ftw. The rest of my family are city fans so it causes trouble :P If you're coming to England you're going to have pick a team. You can't just say you're neutral. Just to prepare you before any footy fans probe you! :P

You want snow? You can HAVE IT!! lol. Man, this year we had snow banks over my bloody head most of the season. You WANT that??? I'd like to be somewhere it DOESN'T.=)

Gotcha about the second city, of course Mancs would say that though=). Didn't you guys invent the butty or something like that?

Heh, er football. See, I have a club, for sure but I think I will TRY and stay neutral because no matter how much I LOVE that club, I can't relate to the kind of violence and fervour rivalries create there. I make no secret (even on here!=) that I'm a 4th Gen Manchester Utd supporter and defend myself for it constantly. In Canada, it's not liek they show many other matches besides the big 4. I'm coming to Old Trafford for a match as soon as I have the money, but I don't mind saying: no Stretford End for me, and I will be terrified! lol.

(Since we're talking about this now both you and Eddie: what do you think of the Ronaldo and Tevez vacancies? Who do you think can fill the shoes? I'm saying they need to look at people like Torres-who is going nowhere; David Villa- who is likely going to Real and maybe Benzema and Ribery, but I think they'll need more- that's a LOT of goals, speed and free kicks to account for. They are looking at Valencia and he's not good enough IMO. They need massive signings, I think or be prepared to pull an Arsenal and build up the young guys like Macheda and Wellbeck while taking a hit in quality for a while. And please, SAF for Gods sake, please just let Nani off the bus somewhere and ask him not to come back.)

Freebird. Unfortunately Gregg and I have already fallen out over football teams, myself being an Arsenal supporter...

But we fell back in over....what was it again?

(p.s. Arsenal sucks. I'm saying it now because trust me, when I get to England, I will not be saying anything like 'insert football club here sucks' for quite sometime. Except to you. But not in your house. Maybe in your house. At least in the yard, for sure.

Have a great trip and do visit some of our DW members in Yorkshire and up in Manchester down the road. The trains out of London are fast and efficient to all points North...... by a Brit Rail pass..... you can have a pint on the train too :}

The trains are a lot lot better then they were 10 years ago. After they were privatised by the wicked witch of lincolnshire back in the 80s their service went down hill pretty rapidly and you'd be lucky if your train was there an hour after it said it would be. Now though, it's a lot better. Also about the pint thing yeah i think European laws are a lot more relaxed about drinking and that, i remember someone in Canada said that apparently you're not allowed to put alcohol in the driving compartment of a car and stuff like that? Well we have some silly enough laws here, like health and safety. Apparently i have to be trained to use a ladder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebirdgdw

The second city thing is more of a status/pride thing, nothing official. Some people say that Manchester should be the capital (mainly people from Manchester lol) but obviously it's never going to be so we settle with 'second city'.

Oh and it's Man U ftw. The rest of my family are city fans so it causes trouble :P If you're coming to England you're going to have pick a team. You can't just say you're neutral. Just to prepare you before any footy fans probe you! :P

Maybe after the war people will be so mad at the government for "surrendering" that they will force them out of london and they will have to set up a government in exile in Manchester and will forever be known as "The Manchester Republic"?

I'm glad you lot like footie so much. I'm not really a buff on the game or anything but i do support city. Hull City that is lol. £40 for a team shirt though? no thanks mate.

Freebird. Unfortunately Gregg and I have already fallen out over football teams, myself being an Arsenal supporter...

Well I think I've fallen out with you now too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzgregg

Heh, er football. See, I have a club, for sure but I think I will TRY and stay neutral because no matter how much I LOVE that club, I can't relate to the kind of violence and fervour rivalries create there. I make no secret (even on here!=) that I'm a 4th Gen Manchester Utd supporter and defend myself for it constantly. In Canada, it's not liek they show many other matches besides the big 4. I'm coming to Old Trafford for a match as soon as I have the money, but I don't mind saying: no Stretford End for me, and I will be terrified! lol.

(Since we're talking about this now both you and Eddie: what do you think of the Ronaldo and Tevez vacancies? Who do you think can fill the shoes? I'm saying they need to look at people like Torres-who is going nowhere; David Villa- who is likely going to Real and maybe Benzema and Ribery, but I think they'll need more- that's a LOT of goals, speed and free kicks to account for. They are looking at Valencia and he's not good enough IMO. They need massive signings, I think or be prepared to pull an Arsenal and build up the young guys like Macheda and Wellbeck while taking a hit in quality for a while. And please, SAF for Gods sake, please just let Nani off the bus somewhere and ask him not to come back.)

GB

I think Ronaldo and Tevez leaving was inevitable, Ronaldo is just arrogant and does what he wants when he wants, and Tevez's agent does some suspicious business deals. We are building up quite a few young players at the minute like Arsenal (Rafael etc) so I don't think we're going to win much next year. But I bet my life that Fergie pulls a killer signing out of knowhere that will provide vital to next season, unless he buys another Berbatov. He's just so... meh.

But it's Chelsea. Admitting you have money in England is vulgar. Manchester City are the richest club in the World, but they haven't been flashing it around the same way. I would almost like them to win if it meant United didn't.

First, I agree, Ronaldo was always going to go and as much as I hate his BS, his skill is astounding- very hard to replace! Tevez- you're right- Joorabchian is a tosspot and even though Tevez has some skill, mostly he was pulling an Alan Smith (who I like alot though): running almost fast at everyone with the ball and occasionally nicking a goal. Of course I expect SAF to pull a major signing too, but I'm afraid he wont!

Berba is hilarious. I think he is a beautiful player, great technique, good eye and so on. Of course he is one lazy bastard. I read this on an MUFC forum regarding the deal offered to Tevez: SAF: 'Well sure you can start every game, it's just that I have to listen to Rooney or he'll deck me and Berba is too lazy to come off the bench, but aside from that, you're in'. =) I like Berba, but he cost too much, plus, he needs to integrate better with the rest of the team. I also greatly miss Hargreaves- poor guy may never be back!

Second, I dunno Duncan- I think signing Robinho and basically saying that they are literally going to bid for EVERYONE means City is doing the same as Chelsea. Look at their last minute bid for Kaka! The difference is they don't have evil Roman behind them, which I admit makes them less.....I dunno.....terrible?

Eddie- I was read a number of bizarre English laws, like 'it's illegal to shoot a Scot with a crossbow on Sundays', meaning of course, every other day- NO PROBLEM! Ah yes, the laws the House has never repealed. Also that it is illegal to fall asleep on a London bus. It's true, apparently. Here in Canada we can't buy beer at any store anywhere except for a liquor store or a beer store (called 'The Beer Store' ). No open alcohol anywhere in the car, no closed alcohol anywhere but in the trunk. Beer and liquor stores closed on Sundays. What else....I dunno, there's a few more I think, but yeah, we are not lax at all in those areas- I think in many cases Canada takes it's lead from the US way of doing things, which is never really a good idea. (Except that even in the US you can buy beer at many different stores unlike here).

PQ- if you don't, you'll have to move to Canada and call it 'Soccer' and watch the oh-so-un-entertaining MLS!!=)

Eddie- I was read a number of bizarre English laws, like 'it's illegal to shoot a Scot with a crossbow on Sundays', meaning of course, every other day- NO PROBLEM! Ah yes, the laws the House has never repealed. Also that it is illegal to fall asleep on a London bus. It's true, apparently. Here in Canada we can't buy beer at any store anywhere except for a liquor store or a beer store (called 'The Beer Store' ). No open alcohol anywhere in the car, no closed alcohol anywhere but in the trunk. Beer and liquor stores closed on Sundays. What else....I dunno, there's a few more I think, but yeah, we are not lax at all in those areas- I think in many cases Canada takes it's lead from the US way of doing things, which is never really a good idea. (Except that even in the US you can buy beer at many different stores unlike here).

There are some laws like you're allowed to shoot a scotsman in york minster on wendsdays with a longbow and that every person above the age of 10 has to learn archery. Clearly they're not enforced any more and you WOULD be nicked if you did actually shoot a scotsman with a longbow in wednsday in york minster.
I was on more about the stupid health and safety laws that seem to suggest that common sense doesn't apply anymore, like having to be trained to do a deadlift if you do work which requires moving boxes around. Do they do that in canada? I'm glad our alcohol laws aren't like in the US though where you're not allowed to go out on a night if you go to college and you're under 21 in case you go to a bar and have a drink. I hope the EU don't start making laws against alcohol, mind you i'm sure the french would have something to say about that XD.

I'm glad our alcohol laws aren't like in the US though where you're not allowed to go out on a night if you go to college and you're under 21 in case you go to a bar and have a drink. I hope the EU don't start making laws against alcohol, mind you i'm sure the french would have something to say about that XD.

Thats not a law in the US that Im aware of. I go out at night all the time and Im under 21. You cant go in a bar until youre 21, the legal drinking age, though.

There are some laws like you're allowed to shoot a scotsman in york minster on wendsdays with a longbow and that every person above the age of 10 has to learn archery. Clearly they're not enforced any more and you WOULD be nicked if you did actually shoot a scotsman with a longbow in wednsday in york minster.
I was on more about the stupid health and safety laws that seem to suggest that common sense doesn't apply anymore, like having to be trained to do a deadlift if you do work which requires moving boxes around. Do they do that in canada? I'm glad our alcohol laws aren't like in the US though where you're not allowed to go out on a night if you go to college and you're under 21 in case you go to a bar and have a drink. I hope the EU don't start making laws against alcohol, mind you i'm sure the french would have something to say about that XD.

Suuuure , they pick and choose what ones to enforce! The best thing about laws is that they are almost invariably in place because the issue has been some sort of problem. For example, Wednesdays are a peak day for crossbow slayings? Or perhaps midweek works best for some reason? The over 10 archery thing, and some others are indeed self explanatory when you think of it historically, but why can I not fall asleep on a London bus??!!

No deadlift training here, but I bet it's from way back when, when people were getting injured left right and centre trying to lift horses and whatever it was way back when people were lifting. Maybe companies got sued even, or worse!

Brit, don't be so sure, there are regionnal laws too, don;t forget. It just isn't like that for you in NJ. Like it is illegal to sever alcohol in some parts of the US, like Utah with the mormons, and Rockport Mass. (where I went on vacation and loved it, but it was a 'dry town'- you could bring your own (closest place was in New Hampshire though) but it was illegal to serve. You'd be surprised man! In Mass. alone there are quite a few weird ones, including a sign literally posted on the motorway going south out of the city- something about horses (I forget what the rule was).

By the way, back to Manchester for a moment- I forgot to mention that Life on Mars IS filmed there, which I like.=)

well it was, but that series has finished now. I dunno if they're gonna have a new series of ashes 2 ashes or they're just gonna leave it hanging though?

I could never get into Ashes 2 Ashes, dunno why. I liked the LOM setting for the characters better. I dug LOM, and not just because I have a coat problem (whilst packing I got rid of 6 vintage leather coats and have 6 left) and they all had bitchin' coats either!

Wasn't Cracker in Manchester as well? Robbie Coltrane is great.

MFB- yes you've mentioned that to me before, under different circumstances.... We need the Cleese SatNav though, no matter what.

Oh yes. You holding a map and pretending to be Cleese doesn't cut it. That is neither navigation or Cleese.

Doesn't it? It's certainly not navigation, I can tell you that.

Anyway, thought I'd check in- I'm here, been since Monday. Jet lagged but extremely happy, sitting in an internet cafe in Lewisham on a hot as hell day, third in a row and no rain (something every Londoner, including MFB has made apoint of insuring that I do NOT get used to). It's going well so far, and my plane did crash like I thought it would.

So now that I'm here, I'm accepting pints....

Once again, thanks all for the well wishes and advice, and now that I'm here, I'll try to pop in as much as I can- should have me a new laptop and some internet in a few days, I hope which will make it much easier.

In closing my first post from England, I would like to do something we cannot easily do in Canada (or at least I dunno how): £

Gregg, remember that pub I told you about down the road from you? Here's the full story.

I'd just finished playing, started an ironic mosh pit (of two) and then was standing by the side. I hear a creaking noise, look up and the PA Speaker (all 6x6 foot of it) came crashing down about a foot away from my head - it was resting on a subwoofer. Really stupid idea when a metal band was playing.

Funniest pub too. Holes in the wall - literally, and that's the place where I kept meeting the Babyshambles guitarist during 'slightly less coherent' phases. You have to love Lewisham.

Alright , in n out of the land of JG, MFB, and the Queen.Missed you all but caught some great dim sum at One World on Gerrad street.

I think the Coldstream guard batteures play Pearl drums if I wasnt mistaken, peering through the grills of Buckigham palace.

'Billy Elliot' at the Victoria Theatre outdid broadway. The music shops on Denmark Street sucked ( great books and vintage guitars/amps selections.. outrageously priced though ).Hank's had some very nice 1960 Strats... disinterested salespeople though........avoided Kanye in Hyde park and Madonna further west.. tried not getting run over by people headed out to Wimbledon....

Tate and National portrait galleries were deeply satisfying. What a great town y'all live in.. otr thereabouts.

Alright , in n out of the land of JG, MFB, and the Queen.Missed you all but caught some great dim sum at One World on Gerrad street.

I think the Coldstream guard batteures play Pearl drums if I wasnt mistaken, peering through the grills of Buckigham palace.

'Billy Elliot' at the Victoria Theatre outdid broadway. The music shops on Denmark Street sucked ( great books and vintage guitars/amps selections.. outrageously priced though ).Hank's had some very nice 1960 Strats... disinterested salespeople though........avoided Kanye in Hyde park and Madonna further west.. tried not getting run over by people headed out to Wimbledon....

Tate and National portrait galleries were deeply satisfying. What a great town y'all live in.. otr thereabouts.

Excuse me! I live here too. D:

Yeah the music shops on Denmark Street are a bit overpriced and the staff aren't very good. Of course maybe you're just not used to UK (esp london) prices lol.

This is one of the saddest laws I have ever heard of,
"30% of a radio stations content must be "Canadian Content" ??? Really why is that? And why did you have to make a law about it

This dumb one from Alabama,
"It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle." See above

Also there is no law in the US that says you cannot go out after dark if your under 21" If there is a college rule than thats the college not the federal, state or even municipal and you do not have to sign on with that college.

This is one of the saddest laws I have ever heard of,
"30% of a radio stations content must be "Canadian Content" ??? Really why is that? And why did you have to make a law about it

Exuse me?! What exactly do you find so sad about this law? Without it so much great talent would have never gotten the time of day. Why should an entire continent be forced to listen to the same playlist written up by the suits in LA? After all, that's what the other 70% is for.

It gives us a little independance and individuality. We've got a prospering music scene that's definately worth a look - and a listen. As a Canadian musician, I couldn't be more happy and proud to have this law on my side. It gives us a fighting chance.

If a Canadian content law is sad, what do you call your right to bare arms???

Exuse me?! What exactly do you find so sad about this law? Without it so much great talent would have never gotten the time of day. Why should an entire continent be forced to listen to the same playlist written up by the suits in LA? After all, that's what the other 70% is for.

It gives us a little independance and individuality. We've got a prospering music scene that's definately worth a look - and a listen. As a Canadian musician, I couldn't be more happy and proud to have this law on my side. It gives us a fighting chance.

If a Canadian content law is sad, what do you call your right to bare arms???

**BANG BANG YEEEHAWWW!!!!!****

Weeeeeellllll, maybe I'm the wrong person to comment. But I personally always felt it was to make up for the lack of quality. The GOVERNMENT had to ENSURE that there is a certain amount of CAnCon (Canadian Content) or else it wouldn't be played at all. Why? It's just not that good, IMO. If it was, there'd be no law. If Kim Mitchell or Thom Chochrane could compete with Bob Dylan, it wouldn't have to be manditory to play 'Patio Lanterns', but it is.

I am fully aware that not everyone agrees with this and I also am aware that I moved away from that country to my other legal home, where I am now. However, I've always felt this way about CanCon, the proof is in the crap they end up playing, just because it's Canadian. The 'suits in LA' never program radio stations other than their own country's anyway. Think about it, do they care what happens in Vancouver? No. The fact is, radio people IN Canada, DO Canadian programming and always have. What Can Con has always amounted to is slotting in 'Fly By Night' and 'These Eyes' between songs that are ACTUALLY ON the charts ant the moment.

The bear arms law is like many that has just never been repealed and is used by gun toting red-necks to justify their owning a weapon (which, as has been pointed out, is rubbish). The law was from when the British were literally banging down their doors.

Some radom pics from today (but PLEASE, don't let this post derail any CaCon discussions, I'm way up for tha=)

1. Down the street from my flat
2. Behind that guy (and a bunch more like him) is Gord's house
3. What a great sign. I think I will name my next band that.
4. Mmmm, Fullers.
5. Also down the street from my flat.
6. Camden somewhere
7. Thames walk. About 2 min after this, I watched a girl eating an ice cream who tripped and literally fell face first into that ice cream. I nearly peed my pants I laughed so hard.

Maybe more pics to come. I'm no photographer, and I don't really like taking pics of post-cardy stuff, so that usually means they aren't terribly entertaining to anyone but me=)

Some radom pics from today (but PLEASE, don't let this post derail any CaCon discussions, I'm way up for tha=)

1. Down the street from my flat
2. Behind that guy (and a bunch more like him) is Gord's house
3. What a great sign. I think I will name my next band that.
4. Mmmm, Fullers.
5. Also down the street from my flat.
6. Camden somewhere
7. Thames walk. About 2 min after this, I watched a girl eating an ice cream who tripped and literally fell face first into that ice cream. I nearly peed my pants I laughed so hard.

Maybe more pics to come. I'm no photographer, and I don't really like taking pics of post-cardy stuff, so that usually means they aren't terribly entertaining to anyone but me=)

GB

Make sure you get a picture of my car with your stuff in it. That's worth a laugh. Today was hilarious, I literally had no space in the back.

Exuse me?! What exactly do you find so sad about this law? Without it so much great talent would have never gotten the time of day. Why should an entire continent be forced to listen to the same playlist written up by the suits in LA? After all, that's what the other 70% is for.

It gives us a little independance and individuality. We've got a prospering music scene that's definately worth a look - and a listen. As a Canadian musician, I couldn't be more happy and proud to have this law on my side. It gives us a fighting chance.

If a Canadian content law is sad, what do you call your right to bare arms???

**BANG BANG YEEEHAWWW!!!!!****

yeah i mean if it wasn't for those laws we might never have heard of bands like nickelback and sum41. Actually... :p oj i really like some bands from canada actually.

Lovin the pics, surprisingly enough i've never actually been to downing street seen it enough on the telly though. I'll have 2 go next time i'm there.

I absolutely will. We're going to have to take them out of the boxes AT the airport, aren't we? Dammit. They should be getting shipped today, by the way. The trip home was good?

GB

Trip home was hilarious. But the roads were basically clear and I suspect because of the tennis final. It took about 7 1/2 hours, but it wasn't so bad in the end. It's amazing what NOT going on the M6 does to you - that road is just the most boring road ever.

Yeah, we might have to take stuff out of boxes. Unless you want to hire a van (expensive and difficult seeing as I'm 21 and most van hires are funny with under 25). We are both packing geniuses though, so there will be a way.

Incidentally, my car is the same as the green one half way up on the right hand side of the picture of your street.

Exuse me?! What exactly do you find so sad about this law? Without it so much great talent would have never gotten the time of day. Why should an entire continent be forced to listen to the same playlist written up by the suits in LA? After all, that's what the other 70% is for.

It gives us a little independance and individuality. We've got a prospering music scene that's definately worth a look - and a listen. As a Canadian musician, I couldn't be more happy and proud to have this law on my side. It gives us a fighting chance.

If a Canadian content law is sad, what do you call your right to bare arms???

**BANG BANG YEEEHAWWW!!!!!****

Well I thought it was pretty obvious as to why it's sad as you can tell by some people's response but I will go ahead and try to be more specific.
It's pretty sad that you have to have it at all. If it's good enough and the people want to hear it then it will be on due to demand and not because some plitician who is worried about being to much like America forces crappy music down your throats just to try and be different, Hey but if you bought the BS then more power to ya..AY : )

The right to BEAR arms has nothing to do with a sad law in Canada and is a whole different animal and good points can be made on both sides of it if you really listen with an open mind, however I suspect this subject is against the DW forum policy so I won't say anything other than it's a right I believe in 100%.